Actor Hugh Grant is diversifying his filmography with his upcoming horror film, Heretic. As a result, Grant is busy promoting the upcoming film and appeared in an interview where he discussed his past career as a romantic lead and bringing the same charm to the horror genre. At the same time, Grant reflected on his rivalry with actor Ralph Fiennes.
The Harry Potter star is known for his performance as Lord Voldemort in the hit fantasy franchise but has also delivered powerful dramatic performances. Grant admitted to seeing Fiennes as a rival in their early days but has since grown to admire the actor’s prowess in diverse roles. Here is what Grant had to say about his rivalry with Fiennes and his new movie Heretic.
Hugh Grant Discussed His Rivalry With Harry Potter Star Ralph Fiennes
Hugh Grant has lent his charm to some of the best romantic comedies of the 1990s, appearing in films like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill. However, in recent years, Grant has transitioned to character roles and experimented with different genres.
The actor will next appear in the horror movie Heretic and discussed his ever-evolving career in an interview with The Hook. In the interview, Grant was asked about some of his favorite actors at present. Grant admitted to seeing Harry Potter star Ralph Fiennes as a rival, stating:
I hate to say it cause he’s been a sort of rival all my life but I think Ralph Fiennes gets better and better.
Grant revealed that he enjoyed Fiennes’ work, including the latter’s brilliant performance in The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Grant and Fiennes started their screen acting careers around the same time, and briefly went after similar roles as desirable leads in romantic comedies. However, Fiennes has expressed his discomfort with such roles, leading to him diversifying his filmography. Nonetheless, Grant feels his contemporary is a solid actor and also expressed a desire to work with Fiennes in the future.
Hugh Grant Had a Meltdown While Working on His New Horror Movie Heretic
During the same interview, Grant also spoke about his upcoming film Heretic, which sees him dabble in the horror genre, playing the role of Mr. Reed, a charming Englishman hiding sinister secrets. Grant revealed that during a table read for the movie, he had a breakdown as he did not agree with some of the script.
Grant explained that a few days before shooting he had a meltdown during a readthrough and demanded some of it be changed. The situation quickly spiraled out as the actor could not focus on his lines and got lost in the pages he was supposed to read from. However, Grant felt that the meltdown helped him bond with his co-stars Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East.
Furthermore, Grant explained how he channeled his charming romantic lead traits for his character. The actor stated that when the two missionaries come to convert his character, Mr. Reed, he had to make the character charming and inviting so that the audience would not question the women’s decision to enter his house. As a result, Grant relied on his prior experience to give the horror trope a new twist.
Heretic is slated to release in the USA on November 8, 2024.
